Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-01-15
Land that Gives Fa-
tire Satisfaction to all Parties.


the country was first settled land
has been so easily secured that al
most any person could obtain the
amount required for raising crops or
keeping stock. Still the tenant class
is rapidly increasing, and in a near
future will b, come much more nu-
merous than it is at present. 1t is
likely that we shall eventually find
the same condition of affairs here as
respects the ownership, and working
of land that exists in most of the
countries of the old world. One
class will own large proportion OF
the farming and grazing land, and
will rely ON the rent derived from it
for living. Another class, not hav-
ing sufficient capital to own the land
and supply it with stock and imple-
ments, will lease it for longer or
shorter periods, paying therefor cash
rent or a certain proportion of the
profit. It is q matter of common
observation that more capital is re-
quired to conduct farming opera
tions successfully now than was the
casea few years ago. Domestic
farming has generally given place to
commercial farming. Hand tools
have been thrown aside and costly
tools employed in their place. Men
engage in farming as a moneymak-
ing business, and not with the simple
view of earning u living. In the
western states, where grain produc-
tion aud stock-rasing are the princi
pal rural industries, only farms of
considerable size are profitable.
Few Young men have the means to
purchase fou tn ora half section
of land, to erect suitable buildings,
to buy stock, to obtain machinery,
and to con lieut. farming operations
till crop can be raised or animals
put in condition to sell Many who
could obtain the stock and nipple.
ments could not purchase the land
needed to cultivate.
A just and equitable system of
leasing farms would be great bene-
fit TO many persons who have some
capital but not enough to enable
them to buy land and improve it.
It would enable them to live in we'll
settled portions of the country and
to enjoy most of the comforts and
advantages of highly civilized life.
Their families wonld be happier and
more contented than on the frontier.
Such a system of leasing farms would
be highly advantageous to many
land. owners. Some of them become
possessed of land by purchase. some
by act of settlement in early iife,and
others by inheritance. Many own
ers of farms are too old or too young
to manage them. Many farms be-
long to women, who cannot manage
them successfully. A large proper
ton of all these classes desire TO
keep their farming lands, as they are
regarded as very safe if not very re-
munerative property. They are
more secure than money, put out at
interest. ordinary stocks, or town
property. Ifin the hands of good
tenants, they give cause for little
anxiety. They could be made sources
of pleasure as well as profit to their
owners. If kept in good condition
or gradually improving, there would
be much pleasure derived from visit.
ing them.
Is is obvious, however, that most
of the systems of leasing farms that
prevail in this and foreign countries
are not satisfactory to the owners or
the tenants. Leasing farms from
year to year generally results in de-
preciating the value of the land,
fences and buildings and in making
tenants unthrifty. The tenant who
is constantly moving is never very
prosperous. The landlord who
changes tenants very often may ex-
pect TO see his farm run down. No